Fruit-gatherer.



J. L. HIVELY. FRUIT GATHERER. APPLICATION FILED FEB- H, 1915.

Patented May 2,1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cu.v WASHINGTON, h. c.

S FATNT I I IQD IERUIT-GATHERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed February 11, 1915. Serial No. 7,530.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JACKSON Lnn HIVELY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Warm Springs, in the county of Bath and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Fruit-Gatherer; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and useful fruit gatherer.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient and practical device of this nature comprising an improved wire framing having a fabric covering and secured on one end of a pole, there being a fruit detaching resilient element carried by the framing, said element being provided with a loop passing down through the frame and provided with a pull cord. The object in providing a loop, connected to the resilient element and disposed and operated in the manner shown and described, is that the sides of the loop act as guides for the fruit as it falls into the fabric covered framing.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a. perspective view of the fruit gatherer constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, showing the resilient element having been operated, and the fruit having fallen into the fabric covered framing. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates the pole, to the upper end of which a framing 2 composed of annular rings 3 and vertical stays 4 is secured, in the manner shown. The stays a are secured to the rings, and hold the rings in their relative positions. Said stays extend upwardly and outwardly beyond the uppermost ring forming the arms 6, to the upper extremity of three of which arms, a large annular ring 7 is secured, as shown by the eyes 8. Secured to the ring 7 as at 8 is a wire extension 9, which is semi-circular, and the outer portion of this semi-circular extension wire is spaced apart from the ring 7, and one of the arms 6 has an extension arm 10, the end of which connects at 10 to the outer portion of the wire extension 9, thereby holding the same in place. Stitched as shown at 12 to the rings 7 and the extension is a fabric cov ering 13, extending downwardly and conforming to the shape of the arms, and at the lower portion of the covering the small opening 15 is formed, through which a pull cord 16 passes. Secured at 17 to the framing (which is secured to the pole) and secured to the ring 7 is a member 18, which is constructed preferably of leather or the like, and its upper portion terminates in a resilient element 19, which arches as shown over the ring 7. A wire U-shaped member 20 is secured to the pull cord 16 and has the upper ends of its arms 21 secured at 22 to the resilient element thereby forming means for bending the arched resilient member longitudinally and transversely when a downward pull is imparted to the pull cord 16.

It is to be understood that the pole is to be constructed of sul'licient length, to reach the fruit on the trees, and in gathering the fruit the ring 7 and the extension are passed over the fruit, for instance such as an apple or the like, and then by exerting a pull upon the cord 16, thereby bending the resilient element, causing the same to detach the fruit, which, as it becomes detached is guided into the fabric covered frame, by means of the arms of the loop.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is A fruit gatherer comprising a pole, a pair of rings secured to the upper end of said pole, stays secured to said rings, said stays extending upwardly and outwardly beyond the uppermost ring and terminating in eyes at their upper ends, a large ring disposed transversely and extending slightly clownwardly and secured in said eyes, a wire extension forming a semi-circular loop having connections at its ends at diametrically opposite sides of the large ring, said semi-circular loop extending forwardly and slightly upwardly and having its outer portion spaced apart from the lower outer portion of the large ring, a fabric covering being stitched to the upper portion of the frame formed by the large ring and loop and its lower end surrounding the pole, a resilient fruit detaching element having one end attached to the rear of the frame, its free end arching over the frame toward the outer portion of the semi-circular loop, a U-shaped member having the upper ends of its sides connected to the sides of the free end of said resilient fruit detaching member and forming means for bending the fruit detaching element longitudinally and transversely, and means for operating said resilient member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two SllbSCIlblIlg tnesses.

JACKSON LEE HIVELY.

Witnesses:

W. J. HERRMANN, G110. B. VENABLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents- Washington, I). G." 

